Legendary US funk and soul band Tower of Power will bring their unmistakable energy to the London Palladium on 21 May 2026.
Known for their explosive 10-piece lineup and a horn section regarded as one of the finest in the world, the Oakland-born group has spent nearly six decades defining what live funk can be. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering them for the first time, Tower of Power remains one of America’s most enduring and influential musical institutions, celebrated for their precision, power, and electrifying stage presence.
For 58 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music. “We were a soul band called The Motowns,” recalls bandleader Emilio Castillo.
“Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. I met ‘Doc’ Kupka back in 1968 and gave him an audition. He came in the band, and we eventually changed our name to Tower of Power.” That shift marked the beginning of the sound and ambition that would carry them around the world.
Their breakthrough arrived with East Bay Grease, the record that captured their raw Oakland spirit and secured a deal with Warner Brothers. The follow-up, Bump City, became a major milestone, landing on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B Albums chart and producing enduring hits such as “You’re Still a Young Man” and “Down to the Nightclub.” The band’s momentum carried through the 1970s with radio staples including “So Very Hard to Go” and the now-iconic funk anthem “What Is Hip?”, firmly establishing their place in American music history.
Alongside their own catalogue, the band’s horn section has become a sought-after force in popular music. Over the years, Tower of Power has recorded and performed with a remarkable list of artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and many others. In doing so, they helped define the unmistakable “Oakland soul” sound—distinct, punchy, and instantly recognisable.
Tower of Power’s commitment to the stage has never wavered. In 2018, they returned home to Oakland to celebrate their 50th anniversary, an event captured in the release 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater. The performance reaffirmed what fans have always known: their roof-rattling grooves, tight musicianship, and joyful spirit remain as potent as ever. The band’s NPR Tiny Desk performance, also recorded in 2018, has amassed millions of views.
Still a thriving live act to this day, Tower of Power remain as vital and life-affirming in their celebration of funk & soul as they have for the last five decades.
